Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Pickled Beets
Recipe and Photography Courtesy Seneca Foods
Featured in Winter 2023
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 large yellow onions, halved, sliced ¼ inch thick
1–2 tablespoons water (optional)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Sandwiches:
8 large ½-inch-thick slices sourdough slices bread
1/8 cup mayonnaise
4 ounces fresh goat cheese, at room temperature
8 ounces shredded Gruyère cheese, at room temperature
1 jar pickled beets (about 32 beets)
2 cups fresh baby arugula
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
To make caramelized onions:
- In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat melt 1 tablespoon each of the butter and olive oil. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes, then reduce heat to medium.
- Cook until onions are caramelized and rich, deep golden brown, about 25 minutes, stirring often. Turn heat to medium-low or add water if onions are dry or start to scorch before caramelizing.
- Add brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes; cook 1 minute. Onions should be jammy and darkly caramelized when done. Remove to a plate to cool.
To make sandwiches:
- Place bread slices on a flat surface. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on one side of each bread slice.
- Turn bread slices over and spread goat cheese on plain sides. Top goat cheese with Gruyère, an even layer of beets, caramelized onions, and arugula. Top with remaining bread, mayo sides out. Secure with toothpicks if desired.
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat melt remaining butter with olive oil. Add two sandwiches; cover and grill until bottoms of bread are toasted, about 5 to 7 minutes, and cheese starts melting, checking often. Flip and cook, uncovered, until cheeses are melted and bottoms of bread are toasted.
- Repeat with the remaining sandwiches. Makes 4 sandwiches.
Recipe courtesy Seneca Foods
